Georgia Colleges May Have to Face Major Cuts to Balance State Budget

The educational system for the state of Georgia might be running into a roadblock if there is any chance in balancing out its budget.

In trying to cut close to $600 million from its budget, colleges and universities within the state would be forced to lay off thousands of employees, severely limit freshman classes and eradicate popular programs outside of the campus boundaries.

Such a drastic move is in preparation for a hearing taking place Wednesday as the General Assembly is making efforts to find a means to fill a potential $1.1 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that would start on July 1, according to sources at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Stemming from a report that was put together by the University System of Georgia, there would be close to 2,500 faculty and staff jobs that would be cut at Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

“We strongly believe that cuts of this nature, if implemented, would severely compromise our ability to provide the educated populace that is necessary for the continued success of this state,” Chancellor Erroll Davis said in a letter Monday to key lawmakers. “Such a reduction would dramatically and negatively alter a university system in which the people of this state have invested so much; a reduction of this size is not in the best interest of Georgia and its future economic development.”

As revenue continues to shrink, however, drastic times are apparently calling for desperate measures as Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers stated that the cuts are imminent and cannot be avoided.

Cuts, unfortunately, will mean that tuition will see an increase as funds are trying to be built up for these institutions of higher learning. Davis stated that a 77% increase in tuition would only be able to raise more than half of the cuts.

The University System contains more than 300,000 students and more than half are within a program that would not have them fearing an increase in rates as their tuition is locked in for four years.

The other half, however, may be forced to pay an extra $1,000 a year which could bring in $150 million.

Here is a list of colleges and universities and how they will deal with the budget cuts: